These golfers can't see, but the vision is clear

Friday

Jun 29, 2007 at 12:01 AM

OTIS HART walks the links with some of the finest blind golfers in the country in this asap video report.

(AP) GOLF -- OTIS HART walks the links with some of the finest blind golfers in the country in this asap video report. By OTIS HART ARMONK, N.Y. 0627asap_blindgolf Jim Baker swung through his tee shot on the 12th hole at Whippoorwill Club and sent the ball soaring toward the fairway. It split the short grass perfectly and landed over 200 yards away. Baker's playing partners erupted in claps and compliments, an outburst usually frowned upon while on the course. The gentleman from Nashville thanked his entourage, then turned to confer with his coach, Kyle Seeley. "Did it stay straight?" Baker said as he took a hold of Seeley's left arm. "Yep," Seeley replied, and began to guide Baker back to his golf cart. Baker was one of 15 golfers to take part in the 30th annual Guiding Eyes for the Blind Golf Classic, one of a few tournaments around the country designed for blind golfers. The event, hosted this year by New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, raises money to train guide dogs. The winner this year was Pat Browne Jr., who was coached by his son, Pat Browne III. Browne shot a 37 (using a Modified Stableford points system) to take home an unprecedented 18th Corcoran Cup trophy. In this asap video report, we trailed the two golfers around the course to find out what it takes to be the ball without being able to see it. ___ See the video here: http://asap.ap.org/data/interactives/_sports/blindgolf/ ___ Otis Hart is an asap reporter based in New York. ___ Want to comment? Sound off at soundoffasap@ap.org .